Toronto law firm Torys LLP to hit Halifax

Chris Fowles says he and his wife Yuko Imai are excited about moving to Halifax. He will be leading Torys LLP’s new centre in the city. (CHRISTIAN LAFORCE / Staff)

Bay Street is coming to Halifax.

Prominent Toronto law firm Torys LLP will open the Torys Legal Services Centre in Halifax in October.

“We think it’s a big development in the evolution of our firm and in the legal marketplace, and Halifax is going to be at the centre of it,” Torys managing partner Les Viner said in a recent interview from Toronto.

Established in 1941, Torys has offices in Toronto, Montreal, Calgary and New York.

Viner said the Halifax centre will enhance the legal work done in those offices by focusing on essential corporate services, including due diligence, contract review and corporate reorganization.

“Every business is under pressure to improve,” he said, in explaining why Torys is establishing the centre.

“Our clients want us to do the same.”

Viner said the Halifax centre, which will be led by Torys partner Christopher Fowles, will focus on innovation by combining experienced Torys lawyers with the latest technology and best practice management. Innovations developed at the centre will be shared with the firm’s other law offices.

Viner said Torys explored a number of locations in and outside Canada before deciding on Halifax.

“We think Halifax is the best place in Canada to find good lawyers,” he said.

Viner called Halifax a great city with a fabulous quality of life and excellent academic institutions.

He said Torys’ plans to recruit from across the country to staff the legal services centre, which will initially employ five lawyers with plans to expand to as many as 15.

“For young professionals, we think Halifax is an attractive place to live,” he said.

Fowles, who has practised corporate and securities law at Torys for 20 years, said he and his wife are looking forward to relocating to Halifax, which they have visited.

“We think we’ll be very happy,” he said, calling Halifax a dynamic and vibrant city.

All legal services centre work will be priced through fixed-fee arrangements — per project, per task, per item, per diem or per month — depending on client requirements.

The centre’s lawyers will focus on national work and won’t generally practise Nova Scotia law or seek local clients.

Viner said a few other international law firms have established similar centres to augment their businesses, but he thinks Torys’ approach is unique.

“It’s not just a back office,” he said, noting that the centre will create well-paid professional positions.

Viner said Torys has scouted locations in Halifax for the new centre, but hasn’t made a final decision.